Introduction

• 1.  NARBO secretariat (ADB, ADBI and JWA) conducted the 5th Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Training in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam from 18th to 25th of February. This training was held as a major part of NARBO activities based on the NARBO Action Plan 2008-2009. This training was hosted by the Vu Gia – Thu Bon (VGTB) river basin committee which consists of Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) of Quang Nam Province and Da Nang City. 24 participants from 6 countries attended. At the same time, JWA conducted the study meeting on Water-Related Disaster Management and 5 participants who attended the study meeting also participated in this training as observers.
• 2.  This training’s goal is to develop capacity of NARBO member staff in understanding and implementing IWRM in their respective river basins by (1) lectures of IWRM concepts and case studies; (2) group work of IWRM; and (3) sharing country challenges and strategies.
• 3.  Based on the outcome of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), we started preparing for this training, and we had the preparation meeting at Hoi An, Viet Nam in November 2008.
• 4.  This time we had many opportunities to discuss among the participants and made them think by using the case studies and the lecture materials. And we asked the International Water Center which is one of the NARBO’s knowledge partner to lead this training based on their experience on trainings, and they handled the training competently and provided strong leadership.
  

Highlight of the IWRM Training

• 5.  This training consisted of class sessions, study visits and workshops. We had lecture about the concept of IWRM, “IWRM Guidelines”, case studies of the VGTB river basin and so on. And we also had poster session and opportunity to introduce “Keys for Success (KfS)” which was found by each participant at their river basins. 
• 6.  As study visit, we went to the upper stream area and the down stream area of the VGTB river basin and saw what was happening and how they confront the issues.
• 7.  At workshop session, participants were divided into 5 groups and discussed to find out the issues and recommendation for solution. At the end of this training, the representatives of each group presented their analysis and recommendations about the KfS in the VGTB river basin. They commonly recommended the needs of the institutional and regal framework, the master plan of the VGTB river basin, monitoring, introduction of the latest technology, capacity building and funding. Especially, as a practical recommendation, they paid attention to “Benefit Sharing” which was recently introduced at the VGTB river basin. “Benefit Sharing” is a framework to compensate the people who lived around the reservoir of hydro-power in a long time. In a short, some part of the benefit which is generated by selling the electricity of the hydro-power is distributed to the people who live in the related area of hydro-power. By doing this, people can maintain their livelihood, and they can conserve the environment of upstream area. And they pointed it out as KfS in the VGTB river basin.
• 8.  At the end of this training, all of the participants were given the certification of participation, and some participants were commended for superior result and participation.

Conclusions

• 9.  There were some excellent presentations which perfectly reflected the whole ideas of this training course. In this point, we can say we could get excellent results of the training.

Lectures on Current Status and Ongoing Initiatives (Appendix 4)

• 10.  Through this training, the participants confirmed the concept of IWRM and learned the technique to implement IWRM at each dimension. Especially, we think it was fruitful for them to know the importance of participation of stakeholders. By obtaining above knowledge, we are convinced they could recognize by themselves what was needed for their river basins.
    And by exchanging the information which was introduced by participants' presentation, they noticed that they had similar issues such as water allocation and lack of coordination mechanism on promoting IWRM. We think it was good for them to be able to cope with promotion of IWRM by having unity among the participants.
• 11.  WIt is said that IWRM is a process and it is difficult to implement IWRM immediately. But we think it is important for all practitioners to recognize where they are standing and work by considering the concept of IWRM.
• 12.  According to the evaluation by the participants, participants had excellent impression on this training. So, we can say this training was successful. But they recommended some improvements about contents of training.
  
  

  Based on the result of this training and lessons learned, we’d like to conduct the 6th NARBO’s IWRM Training in the future.